The skies threatened to open up all day. In fact, just prior to the start of the Annapolis Independence Day Parade, they did. But then…the clouds parted, the parade kicked off from the staging area at Maryland Hall and spectators filled West and Main Streets to take part of what is one of the best Fourth of July celebrations anywhere.

The evening was capped off with a 30-minute fireworks celebration with rockets being launched from barges in the Severn River to the cheer of hundreds of horns from anchored boats. The crowds at City Dock, the Eastport street end parks, and the Eastport bridge were thick and the display did not disappoint.